Atkins Acuity are looking for a Director / Associate Director - Financing Group (advisory) to be based in KSA or UAE.
SNC-Lavalin is a global fully integrated professional services and project management company and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure. Our teams provide comprehensive end-to-end project solutions – including capital investment, consulting, design, engineering, construction management, sustaining capital and operations and maintenance – to clients across oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, infrastructure, clean power, nuclear, and property.
SNC-Lavalin’s Acuity is the end-to-end advisory business that combines extensive engineering and master planning capability with new structuring, financing and project preparation expertise in the Middle East and Africa. Together, as a global fully integrated professional services and project management company, we combine deep business acumen with engineering expertise from across the SNC Lavalin platform to help clients plan, design and enable major capital projects, and provides expert consultancy that covers the full lifecycle of projects.
We build strong relationships by understanding the challenges clients face, sharing their vision and helping them transform potential into reality. Our world-class expertise at scale delivers value and our depth and breadth of capabilities sets us apart from the competition. Our specialized services can be contracted from niche tasks to megaprojects.
The Financing Group of Acuity is continuously evolving and leverage on changing market conditions and will play an integral role in strategically positioning SNC Lavalin business in the Middle East. Acuity capitalizes on the Group’s comprehensive skillsets to help clients ensure their infrastructure and real estate projects are bankable in the international markets through bespoke financial modelling, financial and commercial structuring, and support in capital raising.
Currently serving the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific and Australia regions through two locations in Dubai and Singapore, the Financing Group is expanding its Middle East presence and is looking to hire experienced finance and investment professionals willing to be located in the Middle East.
About the Role
We are currently recruiting for a Director to lead our Financing Group. The practice focuses on providing financial and commercial advice to its client to ensure their infrastructure and real estate projects are commercially viable and bankable in the international market, and understand the economic, regulatory and policy environments in individual markets and their implications for decision making. We also thrive to support our client navigate and make clear decisions on complex PPP processes and projects. We provide technical, commercial, financial and institutional support across sectors, from PPP Policy and institutional building to transaction Financial Advisory and due diligence. Our services cover PPP advisory. Economic modelling and analysis, feasibility and investment viability studies, business case development, value for money analysis, financial modelling, project financing and bid advisory.
Drawing on her/his knowledge and experience, the Director will provide commercial insights and creative solutions for clients, manage delivery teams and contribute through leadership. The Director will actively contribute to driving projects to completion and ensure that work is of high quality.
The Successful candidate will grow, develop and lead a team of consultants and will align with our people pillars:
Win Work
Develop and maintain long-term client relationships and networks;
Generate and lead new business opportunities and bidding;
Commercial responsibilities for further engagements with clients and/or market opportunities screening;
Deliver Work
Lead delivery teams
Consistently deliver quality client services, driving high-quality work products within expected timeframes and on budget;
Monitor progress, manage risk and confirm key stakeholders are kept informed about progress and expected outcomes;
Manage expectations of client service delivery; including team management, client concerns and service analysis, implementation of solutions and reporting to senior leadership team;
Stay abreast of current business and industry trends relevant to the client’s business;
People Building
Demonstrate initiative for learning and development and demonstrate ability to quickly assimilate to new knowledge;
Work collaboratively with colleagues and our clients to promote cross-learning and improve capabilities;
Develop people through effectively supervising, coaching, and mentoring all levels of staff ((identifying training needs where necessary)
Intellectual Property & Proposition Building
Role Responsibilities
Develop growth strategy and actively participate in further developing the Financing Advisory Practice
Lead business development activities through both leading specific pursuits and developing long-term advisory relationships with senior clients
Lead teams undertaking economic feasibilities, market assessment, financial analysis and modelling
Lead teams undertaking commercial and financial due diligence studies
Contribute to the development of intellectual capital in the service line and financing advisory practice
Be part of the leadership group building the team, service offering and client base.
What We are looking for
The Successful candidate will have:
Worked on developing and managing key client relationships and deal origination capabilities from securing advisory mandates to achieving transaction closure acting on government and private sector transaction in the infrastructure and real estate sectors;
Demonstrated proficiency and functional expertise in Project Financing, financial and commercial structuring for infrastructure and real estate development projects
Demonstrated experience in working on economic and social infrastructure projects procurement and delivery
Experience in PPP/PFI, concessions and project financing structures / contracts related to the infrastructure sector is considered highly advantageous
An established network in the regional infrastructure and real estate finance/investment market
Fluency in both verbal and written English
Speak and read Arabic would be advantageous;
Strong commercial acumen and general management skills;
Excellent interpersonal and client management skills;
Understanding of real estate development process;
Management and coordination of junior staff across teams;
Enthusiastic work ethic and willingness to learn new capabilities
Please note: This is NOT an Accounting/Finance/Financial Planning & Analysis role.
To qualify the Candidate must have:
A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience with at least 5 year with either a top-tier advisory firm, Big4 firms, infrastructure service provider, Investment banking, relevant government agency.
University degree preferably majoring in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Management, Law or Engineering from reputable overseas and local universities. Ideally to master’s degree level
A high-performance professional who can articulate a value proposition, developing business cases / models and lead and advise on projects in the infrastructure and real estate sectors from bid stage to financial close
Be willing and able to travel, when necessary;
Rewards & Benefits
We offer an excellent package which includes:
A competitive salary
Accommodation allowance
Transportation allowance
Medical and life insurance cover
Company gratuity scheme
Discretionary bonus scheme
Annual flight allowance to point of origin
Employee Assistance Programme – 24-hour free advice on financial, legal and family care specialists and also access to personal health, fitness and nutrition consultants
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